Description of the attraction
His Highness Theater is located at the corner of Hay and King Streets in downtown Perth. Built in 1902-1904 during the heyday of the city, the theater is designed in the Edwardian Baroque style. At one time, this theater was the largest in Australia - it could accommodate 2500 spectators. It is also believed to be the first building in Perth to be built on a reinforced concrete frame.
In the early 20th century, Perth experienced a period of rapid growth and development associated with the gold rush in Western Australia. The city's prosperity was also reflected in the construction of buildings in the magnificent baroque style. Local politician Thomas Molloy bought the Metropol Hotel and the adjacent 1200-seat theater in 1896 to combine them into an entertainment complex. The name has already been chosen - The Theater and Hotel of His Highness in honor of the recently ascended to the English throne, King Edward VII.
During the construction of the complex, the public was worried about the future reliability of the buildings in light of the water table at the site and the presence of an underground flow. To solve this problem, special drainage pipes were built that deflected water flows. The theater was officially opened on Christmas Eve 1904.
In those years, His Highness's Theater was the largest theater in Australia with the largest stage and the tallest grate bars - the top of the theater stage. British and European theaters of the 19th century were taken as an example of the architectural style of the 4-storey building. The building housed 65 hotel rooms, but they were separated from the theater rooms by iron doors. An electric elevator lifted guests to the rooftop for a magnificent panoramic view of Perth.
Over the long years of history, numerous musical performances, ballet, opera, Shakespeare's plays, etc. have been staged on the theater stage. The building has undergone several renovations - the last major renovation was carried out in the late 1970s, when the theater was acquired by the Western Australian Government and some of the premises were modernized. Since then, His Highness's Theater has been the premier venue for Western Australian Ballet and Opera. The theater's importance to the cultural life of Perth was recognized by its inclusion in the list of places of historical value on a national scale. It is believed to be the only operating Edwardian theater in the country.
In 2006, His Highness's Theater became related to the world's second operating theater bearing the same name, His Highness's Theater in Aberdeen, Scotland.
